Pacific Security: Australia has unveiled an A$600m plan to disrupt cocaine smuggling across the Pacific “drugs highway,” targeting semi-submersibles after seizures and reports including 19 cocaine packages found on a Cook Islands reef in July. Community Resilience: A community working bee is planned at Nikao Cemetery after shock vandalism—headstones removed, broken, and graves damaged—while police say they have a continuing lead. Health & Climate Action: Te Marae Ora health secretary Bob Williams backed a new Pacific Network for Health and Climate Change Action Plan 2026–2028, urging strong Pacific leadership to turn climate priorities into practical health protection. Marine Science in Action: Te Ipukarea Society and Cook Islands Whale Research are running education on returning humpback whales, highlighting how migration supports marine ecosystems and carbon cycles. Public Health Practice: On World Field Epidemiology Day, Tereapii Nimerota explains how surveillance and rapid action support dengue control, water safety, sanitation, and border health. Local Tech & Transport: Smartie Rides has launched a home-grown ride-hailing app in Rarotonga, aiming to undercut taxi costs and keep safe transport accessible. Climate Early Warnings: Cook Islands Meteorological Services is pushing for early warning systems that reach every resident, using El Niño “weather split” updates to guide the next decade of regional meteorology strategy. Governance & Power: CIIC announced leadership changes for Te Aponga Uira Board to strengthen governance for reliable electricity services. Deep-Sea Research: SBMA joined a China-backed deep-sea biodiversity project to standardise and assess habitat data for better sustainable ocean management. Infrastructure for Rising Seas: Cook Islands is using advanced mapping, evacuation planning, and emergency shelters to reduce coastal risk from rising seas.